The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1887-06-08
CONGRESSMEN'S BANKER.
A DUTY OF THE sERGEANT-AT-
ARMS OF THE HOUSE.

Congressman Draw Their Pay.
The Office of the Sergeant.at-Arm is to
be moved to the opposite corridor of the
House chamber, and it will be amusing
next winter, says Washington letter to
the New York Sun, to watch absent
minded statesmen going, from force of
habit, to the former financial reservoir
Congressman are peculiar in their money
transactions. Few are accurate in bust
ness. In addition to thoughtless expen-
ditures that drag many into debt, one of
the most amusing features of their pro-
cedure is the failure to keep track of the
cents in the checks they draw. For in
stance, one of the leaders left the last
Congress just twenty-three cents over
drawn. He is reelected, and nobody
will suffer from this enormous overdraft.
1t happened in very simple and, among
Congressman, in a very common manner.
The statesman had previously drawn a
draft for $25.23, and, in computing his
balance, drew on his memory for $25
draft only.
The Sergeant-at-Arms is now the gen.
eral banker for nearly all the members. A
few years ago many kept separate ac-
counts in the downtown banking insti-
tutions, but now nearly all the financial
transactions of members are conducted at
the Capitol and operations of exchange
and deposit, extending beyond mere sal
ary accounts, are permitted. There are
cashier, teller, bookkeeper, and a huge
safe behind the wire screen protected
counter. Outside is a desk and a collec-
tion of checks. A messenger brings al
most daily from the Treasury, in a satch-
el, the amount of money considered nee
essary for the probable demands. The
bills thus drawn are always fresh and
crisp, and the teller, young man from
Tennessee, has established a reputation
for his ability to snap each bill as it leaves
his hand so that the crack of whip does
not exceed the noise. This process not only
prevents bills from sticking together, but
it adds an exhilaration to the Congress
sional performance of drawing money.
The majority of Congressman draw
their salaries entire during each month,
small sums at frequent intervals, with
lump amounts when rent and board bills
become due. Some who have means dis
tinct from their official stipend allow their
salaries to accumulate for several months,
but not longer. The largest draft ever
drawn within recent recollection was by
ex-Congressman Fredericks of Iowa for
$11, 900. He was seated at the close of
a Congress and drew his two years. salary,
and also his mileage and stationery ac-
counts. The smaller checks used to
emanate from James Belford of Colorado,
POLITICALLY known as the "Red-headed
Rooster of the Rockies" He would
draw checks for So several times each
day. General George A. Sheridan, of
New York, the lecturer, drew a check for
$40, 600 when he served the last thirteen
hours of a Congress as a Representative
from Louisiana. but he paid ex-senator
Jones of Florida and Detroit 81, 500 as
counsel fees in the contest.
A few of the members draw their
months salary in one check, and during
the last session the knowledge of this
habit aided in preventing two attempts
to forge the names of Congressman Long,
of Massachusetts and Houk, of Tennessee.
In the former case the detection was easy.
In the latter the swindler played COM
bination game and succeeded in securing
the cash, but not at the Capitol.
The stationery allowance of Congress
men of 1925 annually is considered by
many a proper matter to commute into
cash. When new members come in.
their attention to constituents usually
involve the expenditure of their full
allowance for stationery, but when more
experienced the combinations are made
into jewelry, opera glasses, and all
articles, which are purchased
by the Clerk under instructions, but in
the last session, in case of Congressman
defeated for rejection, the drafts upon his
stationery account are very limited, and
upon his final March he draws in cash
nearly the whole amount.
Mileage is allowed members at the rate
Of twenty cents per mile each way.
This whs established by the statute of
1866, changed by the salary grab acts,
md reJtored by the repeal of the latter
aw. ID is current error that Delegate
Voorhees, of Washington Territory has
irawn the largest sum for mileage. The
argest amounts in recent years was
allowed ex-Delegate Curry of Arizona in
he Forty-eighth Congress, and his
successor, Mr.. Bean, $1,000, exactly
epresenting 1900 miles at forty cents
nile one way. The committee allows the
Mileage claims upon the written state
nent of members signed, but the truth /.
lot attested. There has been no instance
# dispute of the correctness of these /
laims.
The lowest mileage in the Fiftieth
congress will probably be that of Runny
zee, who can charge abont $500 for
Oming up from Alexandria, Va, on !
on which round trip ticket
osts fifteen cents. In the Forty-ninth |
congress Mr.. Barbour of Virginia re-
orted the shortest trip, eight miles, and |
rev $500. Mr.. Compton of Maryland
'as next eighteen miles, or 1920. Mr.. |
'Oorhees of Washington Territory drew
/, 1865 instead of the 81, 500 which !
everal writers of Congressional fiction |
ave assumed to be his mileage. His |
mount was exceeded by all the /
alifornia members and by two
territorial delegates.